RACE REPORT

Gin Palace: coral.co.uk Handicap Hurdle, Kempton, 2m5f, £17,400, good

1st

 Gin Palace

5/1

11.6

2nd

 Narwal

 4/1f

11.6

3rd

 Crocadee

13/2

11.7

Distances: ¾, 8

Time: 5m 4.40s

Ran: 11

Trainer: G L Moore

Jockey: J E Moore (3)

Owner: Patricia Gilmore

 This did not look a great contest for the money on offer, but the two principals pulled clear and are progressive performers likely to uphold the form
After Is Wallace Jnr initially went off at a rate of knots, the early pace was unspectacular, resulting in a tightly packed field entering the final mile.
Extremely keen towards the rear for much of the race Gin Palace momentarily came under a shove departing the third last flight, but was soon back on the bridle and clearly tanking after jumping into the lead at the penultimate flight. Forced to dig deep on the flat, he stuck on gamely to win on his first racecourse success for 299 days. Lightly raced and going very much the right way over hurdles, he now goes for the Coral Cup, but that will represent a stiffer assignment.

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